Year 87 of the voyage begins. The oldest bottle of orchard wine that can be spared is opened. It is always described as "improving."
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Vikram Aaberg, sixteen, takes the seedkeeper apprenticeship in Hydroponics.
Maintenance sweep of Ring D complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
Nicolás Zhao finishes a mural: “Harvests of Ring B.” It shows in the commons through the week.
Mira Jaber and Ludmila Aaberg, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
“Spun Root (Year 86),” a instrument by Stanley Orellana, is unveiled at brightening to the particular applause of Medical.
The schools release Basma Ning to Hydroponics. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
Hakim Thorvaldsen and Sanjay Zhao, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
The schools release Ion Aaberg to Life Systems. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 4,719th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
Edith Salazar has died at 11, far too early. the ship stands down a shift in grief.
8.52 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 53,401 thousand to go.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 59,600 days to orbit.
Sixty-eight years: Fathom Gallardo hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring B stands ready.
The youngest aboard is now Yusuf Salazar, minutes old, asleep. 896 souls.
The youngest aboard is now Aster Shen, minutes old, asleep. 895 souls.
Maintenance sweep of Ring C complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Kwame and Abebi. The commons sings late.
Chukwuemeka Fossum, sixteen, takes the midwife apprenticeship in Medical.
Remembrance day. The memorial wall is polished by hand, though nothing aboard needs polishing less.
Last shift for Beatriz Fang, who joined Hydroponics half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
The manifest shortens by one: Theodore Lal, 84 years. 8 children carry the line on.
Tarun Kong and Karin Nwosu are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Life Systems turns out.
All boards green. I count 895 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
A first shift for Daisy Tväten, sixteen: arborist, Ecology. The badge is printed fresh.
Gantry Merriweather stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Fabrication.
Pranav Orellana, sixteen, takes the teacher apprenticeship in Archive & Schools.
The schools release Bhavana Orellana to Medical. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
Gopal Ouyang finishes a quilt: “Bright Bell, Slow Garden.” It shows in the commons through the week.
The youngest aboard is now Hedda Orellana, minutes old, asleep. 895 souls.
The schools release Bruno Navarrete to Fabrication. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
8.54 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 53,382 thousand to go.
A first shift for Gunhild Thorvaldsen, sixteen: arborist, Ecology. The badge is printed fresh.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Gunhild Thorvaldsen, 79. It is little enough.
Hydroponics Bays restored within the day. Padma Merriweather signs the work order and goes to sleep for a full watch.
The schools release Beatrice Nwosu to Medical. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
Hydroponics Bays goes down. I reroute what can be rerouted and wake who must be woken.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 59,745 days to orbit.
The schools release Tatiana Quaye to Life Systems. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
Freya Tväten stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Ecology.
Maintenance sweep of Ring B complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
Morale index reads 72. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
8.55 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 53,508 thousand to go.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Joaquín and Yueqin. The commons sings late.
A joining in Ring C: Guowei Valdivia and Widad Petrov. The pressing of cider is authorized.
A birth in Ring A: Kavita, girl, generation 3. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
First Light. The observation blister queues run all day: Teegarden's Star, held in the eyepiece, a little brighter than last year — 8.56 light-years to go.
Morale index reads 70. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
June Barakat and Umbra Kowalczyk, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
Peng Pillai, sixteen, takes the mycologist apprenticeship in Hydroponics.